Foot actuated post setter



Dec. 16, 1947. P. A. BEZZERIDES 2,432,650

FOOT ACTUATED POST SETTER Filed July 28, 1944 Fig.1

gwuuwl'ov Paul H.Bezzeri a'as Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT ACTUATED POST SETTER Paul A. Bezzerides, Grosi, Calif.

Application July 28, 1944, Serial N0. 547, 075

4 Claims.

This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, a novel post setter for agricultural use, particularly for setting plant or vine supporting posts. The present invention represents a modification of the post setter and puller shown in my copending application for U. S. patent, Serial No. 529,371, filed April 3, 1944, now Patent No. 2,374,406, dated April 24, I945.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post setter which can be used easily and effectively by one man for the setting of posts; the necessary downward force to penetrate a post into the ground being imparted to the same by foot pressure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a post setter, as in the preceding paragraph, in which the post to be set is frictionally clamped against a guiding or locating standard by means of a foot actuated clamp; the foot pressure employed to actuate the clamp being continued to force the post into the ground.

A further object is to provide a post setter which comprises a vertically elongated standard against which a post is adapted to rest in parallel relation with the lower end of said post depending below the corresponding end of the standard, and a foot pedal actuated jaw movably mounted on the standard in position to engage and clamp the post and standard together to prevent relative longitudinal displacement therebetween; the foot pedal being employed, after the post is clamped against the standard, to urge the lower end portion of said post into the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is desi ned.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post setter with the parts thereof in their normal or starting position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing a post between the standard and jaw but before engagement of the latter.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the post setter comprises a verticall elongated standard I preferably formed from a length of channel iron to assure the necessary rigidity; the face of such standard being indicated at 2.

A rigid, relatively short bracket 3 is fixed on the standard adjacent its lower end and extends laterally in a direction opposite the face. A transversely extending foot lever 4 is pivoted at 2 one end at 5 in connection with the bracket, thence extends in intersecting relation to the standard I, and terminates at the other end some distance beyond the face 2; there being an upwardly facing foot pedal ii on the foot lever at said other end.

The foot lever A is normally retained at aslight upward incline from pivot 5 by means of a tension or pull-back spring 1 which connects between said lever intermediate its ends and an elevated point 'on the standard.

A-stop 8 on the standard limits upward swinging movementof the foot lever to the above position.

A post engaging jaw 9 is fixed on foot lever 4 on the same side as standard I and in spaced relation to face 2 thereof; said jaw depending from the lever at substantially right angles thereto and the working or post engaging face [0 of jaw 9 being substantially the same width as and alined with said face 2 of the standard. Adjacent its lower end the face H] of jaw 9 is curved outward to assure proper grip on a post ll disposed between the standard and jaw.

In use, the above described post setter is manipulated as follows:

A post II is disposed against face 2 of standard I in engaged, parallel relation; the post extending between the jaw and standard and terminating at its lower end below the latter. A post locator or guide l2 on the upper end portion of the standard facilitates alinement of the post on the standard.

With the post thus in position against the standard,-the workman, while grasping the standard and post, places one foot on pedal 6 and presses downward, clamping the post between jaw 9 and the standard. Continued foot pressure, supplemented by the weight of the worker's body, urges the lower end portion of the post into the ground, setting the post. When the foot lever 4 is released it automatically returns to starting position, whereupon the setter can be removed from the set post for the next post setting operation.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A foot actuated post setter comprising a vertically elongated standard having a post engaging face, a foot lever pivoted in connection with the lower end portion of the standard for vertical swinging movement, said lever projecting laterally of the standard in a direction outwardly of said face, and a post engaging jaw fixed on the lever in spaced opposed relation to said face of the standard; there being a post locating guide mounted on the standard some distance above the jaw.

2. A foot actuated post setter comprising a vertically elongated standard having a post engaging face, a foot lever pivoted in connection with the lower end portion of the standard for Vertical swinging movement, said lever projecting laterally of the standard in a direction outwardly of said face, and a post engaging jaw fixed on the lever in spaced opposed relation to said face of the standard, and for clamping movement, upon downward swinging movement of said foot lever, with a post disposed between the jaw and face; there being a, pull-back spring connected between the lever and standard, and a stop on the standard to limit pull-back movement of said lever. 3. A foot actuated post setter comprising a vertically elongated standard having a post engaging face, a bracket fixed on and projecting laterally from the standard adjacent its lower end and in a direction opposite said face, a transversely extending foot lever pivoted at one end on the bracket and extending in intersecting relation across one side of the standard to a termination at the other end beyond said face, and a post engaging jaw fixed on and depending from said foot lever in spaced opposed relation to the face for clamping a post between said jaw and face upon downward swinging movement of the lever; there being a tension spring connected between the le ver intermediate its ends and an elevated point on the standard, and a stop on the standard against which the lever is adapted to engage to limit upward swinging movement thereof.

4. A post setter as in claim 3 in which said lever is inclined upwardly from its pivot when engaged with the stop; the depending jaw then diverging relative to the face of the standard.

PAUL A. BEZZERIDES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 943,322 Soles Dec. 14, 1909 779,984 Allen Jan. 10, 1905 897,991 McC-oy Sept. 8, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 107,547 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1924 

